As Christians, we ought to be quick to show mercy and slow to pass harsh judgements on others, even if they committed horrific acts. Perhaps the rest of his life in prison will give him much needed time to reflect on the sins he committed and live the remainder of his life in repentance. He may not be showing sorrow for his actions now, but none of us know how God might work on his heart.

Let us commit the memories of the children and woman who died to Christ.

It makes no sense to say "We're against killing (abortion) BUT we're for killing (death penalty)" when the reasons for being against abortion rest on it being the taking of the life of a human being

I'm confused, are you disputing something I'm saying? I think we are in agreement from what I can see.

Although I dont believe in the death penalty, I do understand why folks would want it for this guy. There is a point to be made about justice being done, but I just dont believe that the death penalty really does anything good.

I wont bash folks who think otherwise however...I used to believe in the death penalty for very valid reasons.

PP

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"I confidently affirm that whoever calls himself Universal Bishop is the precursor of Antichrist"Gregory the Great

"Never, never, never let anyone tell you that, in order to be Orthodox, you must also be eastern." St. John Maximovitch, The Wonderworker

As Christians, we ought to be quick to show mercy and slow to pass harsh judgements on others, even if they committed horrific acts. Perhaps the rest of his life in prison will give him much needed time to reflect on the sins he committed and live the remainder of his life in repentance. He may not be showing sorrow for his actions now, but none of us know how God might work on his heart.

Let us commit the memories of the children and woman who died to Christ.

It makes no sense to say "We're against killing (abortion) BUT we're for killing (death penalty)" when the reasons for being against abortion rest on it being the taking of the life of a human being

I was always under the impression that "the reasons for being against abortion rest on it being the taking of the life of a human being" who is totally vulnerable, totally innocent, totally inculpable of any kind of crime whatsoever. Or did I get that wrong, too?

99% of the time I am against the death penalty, and the other 1% I struggle with. But, I can't help but agree with Punch where he says that keeping human beings in cages is barbaric and apart from segregating them from the rest of society, useless and grossly expensive.

I understand the argument for the death penalty, and I don't feel that it is immoral to sentence someone to death if the situation would warrant it, but I think it is far better to grant mercy, allow them to live and perhaps seek repentance in this life. I can't imagine a situation where killing someone that is imprisoned is a better option than giving them time to repent of their sins.

I understand the argument for the death penalty, and I don't feel that it is immoral to sentence someone to death if the situation would warrant it, but I think it is far better to grant mercy, allow them to live and perhaps seek repentance in this life. I can't imagine a situation where killing someone that is imprisoned is a better option than giving them time to repent of their sins.

I agree. It's not about what somebody deserves, it's about honoring the very image of God and allowing them time to repent as you said. If the death penalty was about what somebody deserved, then the method of death should be commensurate with the methods of murder they committed. Gosnell deserves to be painfully killed in the same manner that he killed his victims. But I deserve the same, and that's not false modesty or hyperbole. And I won't go into any more detail than that. I oppose the death penalty not because it is on the same moral level as abortion, but because it deliberately destroys the very image of God. As I have asked before, if we dare not desecrate holy icons made from wood and paint, then why would we dare to destroy living icons created with the very breath of God?

Selam

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"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

I understand the argument for the death penalty, and I don't feel that it is immoral to sentence someone to death if the situation would warrant it, but I think it is far better to grant mercy, allow them to live and perhaps seek repentance in this life. I can't imagine a situation where killing someone that is imprisoned is a better option than giving them time to repent of their sins.

I agree. It's not about what somebody deserves, it's about honoring the very image of God and allowing them time to repent as you said. If the death penalty was about what somebody deserved, then the method of death should be commensurate with the methods of murder they committed. Gosnell deserves to be painfully killed in the same manner that he killed his victims. But I deserve the same, and that's not false modesty or hyperbole. And I won't go into any more detail than that. I oppose the death penalty not because it is on the same moral level as abortion, but because it deliberately destroys the very image of God. As I have asked before, if we dare not desecrate holy icons made from wood and paint, then why would we dare to destroy living icons created with the very breath of God?

Now I can stop defriending people on Facebook for posting photos of abortions.

Well glory to God, this is news to me! Abortion has ended in America! Thanks for letting us know.

Selam

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"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

if we dare not desecrate holy icons made from wood and paint, then why would we dare to destroy living icons created with the very breath of God?

very much agree.

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Even if we have thousands of acts of great virtue to our credit, our confidence in being heard must be based on God's mercy and His love for men. Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it is by mercy that we shall be saved.

I don't think anyone is advocating the "murder" of the doctor. They are advocating a judicial system that would mete out a justice that he is arguably owed. That being said, I agree with most of what else you said.

I admit to using charged language, but I don't see vengeance "as meting out justice." I see it as murder, no matter how heinous the crimes being avenged are. The state willfully takes someone's life because it believes it is being just. But I do not believe that murder is ever just. He is now no longer a threat to society, so there is no applicable "self defense."

Christ certainly showed us what justice is, but he never said that we are to determine which murders are just and which are not.

There is a difference between vengeance and justice. Justice is always meted out by a disinterested third party according to the law. Vengeance is personal and emotionally charged.

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Quote from: GabrieltheCelt

If you spend long enough on this forum, you'll come away with all sorts of weird, untrue ideas of Orthodox Christianity.

Quote from: orthonorm

I would suggest most persons in general avoid any question beginning with why.